A bright idea: Duke Energy helps customers estimate the cost of holiday lighting

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Dec 12, 2019, 12:03 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday lights are going up all across the country, bringing bright colors and welcome cheer. But if you wonder how much your energy bill will go up, Duke Energy has the solution.

To help customers plan and manage their light displays, Duke Energy offers a holiday lighting energy calculator that estimates holiday lighting costs. Estimate your costs before decorating and incorporate efficient, budget-friendly lighting options.

Holiday lighting calculator: duke-energy.com/holiday

Users can identify the type of lights, the number of 100-bulb strands and how many hours the lights will be used per day to estimate the energy cost per day and per month. Based on their lighting selections, customers can receive energy-efficient tips and options.

For example, six 100-bulb sets of large, incandescent bulbs (600 bulbs total) plugged in six hours every evening can add about $75 to a monthly power bill.

By comparison, six 100-bulb sets of similarly styled light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs would increase a monthly power bill by only about $5. Using six 100-bulb sets of mini-LED bulbs would increase a monthly power bill by only 72 cents.

Watts cooking?

Whether you are mixing, roasting or baking your favorite holiday dishes, use our cooking calculator to see the total cost of preparing everything from appetizers to desserts.

Holiday cooking calculator: duke-energy.com/calculator

Money-saving tips to combat the cold

As the holiday season heats up, temperatures will cool down. Help save on your winter energy bills with the following tips:

The thermostat can be the biggest contributor of high winter bills. Select the lowest comfortable setting on your thermostat when you're home and then lower the temperature a degree or two when you leave.
Change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy.
Inefficient heating can also add to monthly power bills during colder temperatures. Regular service calls from a licensed technician will help to properly maintain your heating and cooling system.
The ceiling fan is a great way to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Simply set the fans to operate in a clockwise direction, which pushes warm air back down into the room.
On sunny days, leave your drapes or blinds open to allow the sun's rays to warm the house.
Wear warm clothing for additional energy savings at home. If you're planning a holiday party this season, consider a holiday sweater theme. That way, you can bump down the thermostat a degree or two while your guests stay warm and toasty.

A safe and happy holiday season

Having a happy holiday means having a safe holiday. Before your deck the halls, follow these tips to stay safe and happy this holiday season:

Before installing lights, check each set – new and old – for damaged sockets, loose connections and frayed or bare wires. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.
Never use more than three standard-sized sets of lights per extension cord.
Plug exterior lights into ground-fault interruptible (GFI) outlets only. If the home lacks outside GFI outlets, call an electrician to install them.
Before climbing a ladder, inspect it to ensure it's in good working condition and follow the weight limits specified on the ladder and manufacturer instructions.
Never use a ladder on or near power lines or poles.

For more tips and information on how to save energy and money, visit duke-energy.com.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2019 "World's Most Admired Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

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SOURCE Duke Energy